Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (2023) released this month with high expectations. After all, the previous Modern Warfare trilogy is considered to be one of the best among first-person shooters. This time around, players will be hunting Makarov, the primary antagonist of the Call of Duty series. By the end of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II (review), the decks were stacked and the stakes were high. So things are getting exciting!
But that’s not all, Call of Duty is also known for its awesome multiplay gameplay. But does Modern Warfare III offer the same gunplay action as its peers? Does it offer anything new at all? Well, here are five things you may want to know before buying Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3.
Single player campaign is a bit open now
The single-player campaigns in Call of Duty games are usually quite short and the one in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 is no different. However, one thing new in the campaigns is the new Open Combat Missions. Unlike most Call of Duty missions which are pretty linear, Open Combat Missions have a more sandbox feel to them. Players are given a set of objectives and are free to tackle those in any way they want. They can also scour the map to find better equipment.
Zombie Mode gets the open-world treatment too
It’s not just the campaign that sees some open-world action as the popular Zombies Mode gets some too. This is the first time that a Modern Warfare title gets the popular mode. This time around players will have objectives have been divided into multiple stages. So players have to contend with that as well as the zombie threat.
Classic multiplayer maps
At launch, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3’s multiplayer mode will offer all the original 16 maps from the 2009 Modern Warfare 2. These maps have been modernised with new modes and gameplay features. Post-launch, players can expect 12 new core 6v6 maps. Aside from this, the game will also launch with new Ground War maps. This mode was first introduced back in 2017 with Call of Duty: WWII.
Campaign is pretty disappointing
The reviews of the game’s single-player campaign are rolling out and they all point out to a terrible campaign. Some even say it is the worst in the series and that’s saying something considering the bore-fest that was Infinite Warfare. The action-packed story, which usually forms the heart of any Call of Duty title isn’t that compelling. The stakes aren’t that high and the payoff isn’t that great. For example, the introduction of Makarov in the 2009 Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 was legendary. The ‘No Russian’ mission did a fantastic job of not only introducing the primary threat but also setting the stakes and driving a connection. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3’s version tries to emulate the same, but misses the mark.
Open Combat Missions are flawed
The Open Combat Missions are supposedly the new cherry on top of the cake that is the campaign mode. However, many reviewers are critical of the Open Combat Missions. The open nature of these missions means you do not get to experience the bombastic, over-the-top action sequences that Call of Duty is best known for. Not only that but many of these missions are just set in Verdask and are essentially DMZ missions. So you don’t even get to explore new and exotic locales. As if that wasn’t enough, it’s clear that the enemy AI in Call of Duty games is better off with linear gameplay instead of dealing with the complexity of open-world setting.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 was released on November 10th. You can also check out all the games that were launched this month by clicking here.
